A Clark County jury on Tuesday sentenced Curtis Hart, 34, to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the fatal shooting of Jose Benitez-Rodriguez near the Arts District in January. Hart was convicted of first-degree murder with a deadly weapon during a robbery, robbery with a deadly weapon, sexual assault and sex trafficking of a child under 18. He was acquitted of one count of second-degree kidnapping with a deadly weapon.
Prosecutors portrayed Hart as a violent pimp who killed a customer, while defense attorneys Richard Tanasi and Jess Marchese conceded Hart was the shooter but argued he acted in self-defense. Hart demanded a speedy trial, which began in September just eight months after the shooting, rather than the years typically required to prepare a capital case.
During the penalty phase, the victim's daughter, Naidelin Benitez, testified that her father was generous and protective, saying his death left a mother without her only son and children without their father. Clinical neuropsychologist Abigail Baily testified that Hart had an IQ of 93 and suffered neglect, abuse, homelessness and drug use during his teenage years, which impaired his development of social skills and coping strategies.
Jurors found aggravating circumstances — including Hart's sexual assault, sex trafficking and domestic violence convictions and the risk he created for others — outweighed mitigating factors such as childhood abuse, teenage homelessness, drug use, intergenerational family trauma and a schizophrenia diagnosis. Tanasi said the defense was relieved and grateful the jury chose life but plans to appeal the verdict. Prosecutors did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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